McAllen staff outlines airport terminal expansion plan: eight gates now, design for 10

McAllen city staff on Tuesday presented a detailed update on a planned expansion of the city’s airport terminal that would increase passenger capacity and modernize aging mechanical and utility systems. "To date, we've gone through preliminary engineering report," the presenter said, describing a plan that would expand the lobby, increase ticket counter and baggage‑claim capacity, and build a new concourse to the west.

The presenter said the capacity study put a full 10‑gate expansion into the long‑range plan, and the design will accommodate all 10 gates. "A full 10 gate expansion is what was put into the capacity study," they said. However, staff told commissioners the Federal Aviation Administration's forecasting and funding justification currently support construction of eight gates now, with gates 9 and 10 planned as a later phase. "The FAA is telling us ... they can justify 8 gates," the presenter said.

The update emphasized the infrastructure needed to support the expansion. Staff said several major mechanical systems are at or near the end of their service life, noting the terminal built in 1993 and chillers installed around 2012. The presentation called for replacement of Air Handler 1 and Air Handler 2 (the presenter stated the units are about "200 tons"), installation of a third cooling tower space left during 2021 work, and replacement of chillers to meet the 2025 ASHRAE refrigerant standard (transitioning from R‑134a to R‑454B).

Staff also identified electrical and utility work as prerequisites to expanding the concourse: adding a second feed from another substation to provide redundancy, installing new conduit and routing electrical service to the new west concourse, rerouting water and wastewater lines that cross the planned footprint, and reworking storm sewer to handle increased apron runoff. "Without these much‑needed infrastructure improvements, we won't be able to expand," the presenter said.

Officials discussed funding options. The presenter listed several federal sources staff is pursing, including FAA program and discretionary funds, IIJA airport terminal funding, and an Economic Development Administration application to free up ramp funding for the terminal work. Commissioners expressed a preference for building 10 gates now if funding allows, but acknowledged current forecasting and funding make eight the justifiable near‑term scope.

Staff reported apron and overnight aircraft congestion as a near‑term operational pressure, saying that by June the airport may have seven overnight aircraft while only six gates are available, increasing demand for remote parking and apron flexibility.

On related projects, staff said the city awarded a contract to build a 200‑space parking lot at the northeast corner of Wichita and Bicentennial and expects construction to finish in about six months. The presenter also said a 44‑space cell‑phone lot near the taxi stand is included in the work. How the new spaces will be used (long‑term public lot, employee parking, shuttle‑served remote parking, etc.) will be decided with the city manager.

The presentation concluded with staff reiterating that the city is planning for 10 gates in total while phasing construction to match FAA funding justification and local financing capacity. The commission recessed into executive session after the presentation.